Bauhinia racemosa Lam.

• Botanical Name: Bauhinia racemosa Lam.
• Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
• Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
• Genus: Bauhinia
• Species: racemosa
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Synonyms:
• Bauhinia accuminata 
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Common Names:
• English: Himalayan bauhinia, Small-leaved bauhinia, Orchid tree
• Tamil: ஆத்தி
• Malayalam: Mantharam
Botanical Description:
Bauhinia racemosa is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to tropical Asia, including India and Southeast Asia. It is well known for its beautiful, orchid-like flowers and medicinal properties. Below are the key features:
• Plant Type: Deciduous small tree or shrub
• Height: Typically grows up to 3–6 meters in height.
• Stem: The trunk is slender and covered with smooth greyish bark.
• Leaves: The leaves are simple, alternate, and have a characteristic bilobed (two-lobed) shape resembling the hooves of an animal. The leaf blades are heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, with a distinctive midrib. The leaves are 5–12 cm long, and they have a leathery texture.
• Flowers: The tree produces beautiful, fragrant, white to pale yellow flowers in racemose inflorescences (clusters), usually seen in late spring or early summer. The flowers are about 5–7 cm in diameter and have 5 petals with purple veins and a unique shape resembling orchids.
• Fruits: The fruit is a flat, oblong pod, 10–15 cm long, which contains 6–12 seeds. The pods are brown when mature.
• Roots: The root system is fibrous, spreading, and generally shallow but well-established.
• Odor: The flowers have a pleasant, mild fragrance.
Uses of Bauhinia racemosa:
1. Medicinal Uses:
o Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic: The bark and leaves of Bauhinia racemosa have been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, joint pain, and arthritis.
o Antioxidant and Antimicrobial: The plant contains bioactive compounds that exhibit antioxidant properties The leaves and flowers also have antimicrobial properties and are used in treating minor infections.
o Wound Healing: The bark is known for its wound-healing properties.
o Fever and Malaria: Extracts of Bauhinia racemosa are used as a remedy for fever, including malaria.
o Digestive Health: The leaves and bark are used as a tonic to promote digestion and treat gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and dysentery.
o Antidiabetic: Some studies suggest that Bauhinia racemosa may help in lowering blood sugar levels, and it is used as a traditional remedy for managing diabetes.
2. Ornamental Uses:
o The plant is often grown as an ornamental tree due to its attractive, orchid-like flowers. It is commonly planted in gardens, parks, and streets for landscaping purposes. The tree’s aesthetic value makes it popular in tropical and subtropical areas.